The 54-year-old senator likes to get away to his cottage in Roundstone, Co Galway , to relax and play golf. In Washington he plays with President Clinton, whom he helped to get re-elected last year when he was chairman of the Democratic party.
After the presidential debates between Clinton and dole, Chris Dodd was in demand by the Spanish-language media for briefings and comment. He is still fluent Spanish following his service as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominion Republic.
In the Senate he is regarded as an expert on Central America. In his first senatorial campaign he was attacked as "the senator from communist Nicaragua".
With his Irish ancestors - the Doods came from near Ennis - the senator has always been interested in Northern Ireland.
He campaigned hard to secure a Us visa for the Sinn Fein leader, Mr gerry Adams, before the first IRA ceasefire, using his influence with the President.
Mr Dodd is now finishing his third term in the Senate and is up for re-election next year. He favours reform of election fund-raising following the abuses of last year's campaign, which are being investigated by the Senate.